Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Preview

Ace Combat will return this year, much to the delight of flight fans everywhere. Assault Horizon represents a reboot; a “rebirth” if you will, and will introduce a sweet new combat mechanic called Close Range Assault (CRA). Perhaps the biggest change will revolve around the amped-up intensity; those familiar with this franchise will recall recent entries, where we were routinely a fair distance from our targets. But this time around, developer Project Aces wants to put you in the midst of the action from the start; we’ll even be able to pilot helicopters and switch to the gunner in the rear (all for the sake of gameplay diversity, yes?). We will begin our harrowing journey in East Africa and end up in Dubai but really, the atmosphere and environment are almost secondary. This is about blood-pumping adrenaline from start to finish, which isn’t an altogether unpleasant concept.

For a bit of history, the first titles in this series, which debuted back in the original PlayStation days, were all about insane dogfighting with a small nod to the realistic and authentic. But recently, Ace Combat has taken on a more challenging position, and has been more about the mechanics of flying rather than the over-the-top battles with dozens of bogies. Well, like many other designers with legendary franchise names, Project Aces is returning to their roots with Assault Horizon, as you might’ve guessed from the available media. Close Range Assault is the key: when close enough to a foe, you simply press a button and enter the new mode. The camera will lock onto your target and you will temporarily forego control of your plane; during this time, you attempt to get your victim within the red assault circle. So basically, they’ve separated the two sets of controls normally required for dogfighting...how does that strike you?

Some fans may not like this; they may call it a “mainstream” alteration that detracts from any sense of realism the game may have had. And that’s a fair complaint. But as a trade off, we get a different gameplay style and the chance to see massive damage inflicted right before our eyes. You won’t just see a small explosion on the horizon where your missiles hit; you’ll see metal tearing free of the doomed plane and you’ll often fly right through those explosions. This is the kind of fast-paced entertainment that reigns in today’s world so it’s no surprise to see it included. It may have a lot less to do with realism and a lot more to do with shock value, but at the same time, we should expect a polished, top-quality production. Besides, in how many flight games do we get to watch a wing disintegrate when we nail it with well-aimed ammo? Sounds like a blast.

Online multiplayer ought to be fun, too. There won’t be a co-op mode for the single-player campaign – which will remain entirely single-player – although we have heard that Namco is contemplating bonus co-op missions. Can you say, “DLC add-on?” Based on the videos and screenshots we have at our disposal, we’re excited to see the end result, and although authenticity has taken a back seat for the sake of titillation, perhaps Ace Combat is in need of such an overhaul. The fans will have the final say, though. Expect Assault Horizon to land later this year.

Comments (32 posts)

NIce! I've been waiting so long for an Ace Combat to release on the PS3. that was honestly my favorite franchise on my PS2. i will definitely be buying this game. H.A.W.X. was cool. but i like how Ace has a more dramatic story.

The problem is Alienange, the people who buy realistic flight games can be identified as a niche crowd. The ones who buy action shooters however, represent the best opportunity for Ace Combat to survive.

Check the sales of Hawx 2. Project Aces sure has, and that's evident by the direction of AC: AH.

Sounds good. Even with the change in game play, this is a kind of game we have been missing on the PS3. We've had what, one air fighter based game? At least there will be some competition now.Last edited by TheHighlander on 2/7/2011 10:48:38 PM

"For a bit of history, the first titles in this series, which debuted back in the original PlayStation days".

The first titles originated in the arcades(Air Combat, Air Combat 22) and it wasn't until Namco ended making AC games for the arcade that the name changed to Ace Combat(probably for legal reasons).

"Aren't the only people buying this kind of game the ones who actually want to fly planes"

If I want to fly planes in a virtual environment, then the X-Plane, Aero Dancing, Flight Simulator or the Falcon series is my cup of tea and simpily because they make the experience of flying much more better given the focus on realism. To futher add these games actually teach you something about military and civilian aviation as oppose to the unrealic situations of ace combat.

In the case of Ace Combat, there was a time when I used to like the games religiously, but to be honest when things were said and done the games were merely a carbon copy of former;it also make you make you wonder why Namco is complaining about game falling sales with eatch iteration:

overall if there is the one thing I give Namco credit for when it come the AC game the fact their senerios/maps tend to be very good in terms of design, same can be said about the aircraft scaling with which is accurate. Other than that I have outgrown the AC games.

I'd say it's a good grilled cheese AND bologna sandwich with a cup of hot cocoa, and the love of your life who wraps her arms around you to help warm you up after a long morning of shoveling snow. That's meaning enough for me.

really looking forward to this, been donkeys years since we had a decent flight sim!HAWX sucks big time, simple!almost everything sucks about it, story, graphics, controls, missions.2 was slightly better, but was like going from AC2 to ACB.a few new things, a few revised things, but somehow at the same time in some parts its slightly worse.

if people want realism in their flight sim, go out and jump in a real cockpit./sarcasm

in all seriousness, this is a video game. i realize that its not feasible to go out and just hop in a several-million-dollar aircraft, but if youre gonna whine about it "losing realism" then we're gonna be at odds. its a video game, it needs to be fun./rant

actually serious here, i think fighter pilot games are awesome. if i werent a giant of a man i'd be in the air force to fly the suckers. really, i cant wait. =DLast edited by LightShow on 2/8/2011 6:57:59 AM

I tried the demo of that game but just couldn't get used to the control scheme (even using the easier flight settings). I think part of the problem was that I am just too used to the helicopter flight controls in Bad Company 2! lol

The only real issue I have is with the new CRA. From the sounds of it, it takes the control away from you and instead makes you guide the enemy into the cross hair. That kind of sounds similar to fuelling your plane in H.A.W.X.

:( waited so long for it and this is what we are getting?I'm not impressed. Graphs look like a XBox360 game and the game play is going to be totally changed (reminds me of "The Hive" a rail shooter for the PS1 were all you did was move the cross hairs)...I'll just have to finish the last one for the PS2 or wait for a HD collection or something.